Philippine pride soared in the Spanish skies as the renowned Kammerchor Manila took center stage, sweeping all major titles at the 69th International Habaneras and Polyphony Contest in Torrevieja, a notable testament to the vibrant musical prowess of the nation.
The choral ensemble from Quezon City left an indelible mark on the international music scene, clinching the title of Absolute Winner of the prestigious singing festival which wrapped up on July 29, 2023. The choir church emerged victorious, winning First Prizes for both Habaneras and Polyphony, as well as the coveted Excellence Award for the choir achieving the highest overall score in the final phase of the contest.
Anthony Go Villanueva, the driving force behind Kammerchor Manila, received the Best Conductor José Hódar Talavera award. His deft leadership guided the harmonious performance of around 300 choralists during the rendition of “Sal de mi vida,” a captivating habanera composed by Victor Daniel Lozada.
From this spectacular triumph, the choir collected a total of 32,000 Euros in prize money. Their awards included:
- First Prize “Ricardo Lafuente” for Habaneras, accompanied by 12,000 € and a trophy
- First Prize “Juan Aparicio” for Polyphony, alongside 10,000 € and a trophy
- Excellence Award from the Provincial Council of Alicante, inclusive of 10,000 € and a trophy
- Best Direction Award “José Hódar Talavera”, furnished with a trophy
The Filipino choir’s formidable performance triumphed over twelve other impressive choirs from Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, Lithuania, Poland, Colombia, and Spain. Venezuela and Granada made commendable efforts, with the former taking home the 2nd prize in Habaneras and 3rd prize in Polyphony, and the latter winning 3rd prize in Habaneras and 2nd prize in Polyphony.
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This momentous achievement for Kammerchor Manila stands as a significant improvement on their 2017 win at the same competition, where they took home the First Prize in the Habaneras category and Second Prize in the Polyphony category. They join an elite line of Filipino choirs including the Ligao National High School Voice Chorale of Albay province and the University of the Philippines (UP) Singing Ambassadors, who previously also claimed double title victories at this prestigious competition.
Kammerchor Manila’s triumphant performance was not only a victory for the group but a source of immense pride for their home country. They expressed their joy on social media, dedicating their win to the Philippines with a heartfelt “Para sa Pilipinas (for the Philippines).” With the 70th edition of the contest scheduled for July 2024, the group is expected to defend their hard-won titles.
This magnificent triumph caps off Kammerchor Manila’s successful 2023 UK-Europe Tour, which saw them crowned Choir of the World winner of the Pavarotti Trophy at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in the United Kingdom, and triumphant in multiple categories at the 60th Seghizzi International Choral Singing Competition in Italy. They are set to conclude their tour with performances in Barcelona, leaving a trail of musical brilliance in their wake.
With the conclusion of their European tour drawing near, Kammerchor Manila is poised for a grand finale with performances in Barcelona, bringing their blend of versatility, talent, and cultural richness to the global stage.
WATCH the two performances here AND SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to Kammerchor Manila for their grand multiple victories at the 69th International Habaneras and Polyphony Contest in Torrevieja, Spain!
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